ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. roll — a list
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. roll — a cake
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. deal — to handle
  7. root — of a plant
  8. root — the cause
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. root — of a word
  13. wound — an injury
  14. last — finally
  15. lean — to bend
  16. wound — an injury
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. last — final
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. branch — a division
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. lean — thin
  24. last — to go on

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com